Auxiliary outlet with emergency light



Dec. 2, 1958 LOMBARDO 2,863,038

AUXILIARY OUTLETHIWITH EMERGENCY LIGHT Filed. 061. 15. 1956 INVENTOR DOM/N/OK A. LOMBARDO atented 1 2 AUXILIARY OUTLET WITH EMERGENCY LIGHT Dominick A. Lombardo, New Canaan, Conn.

Application October 15, 1956, Serial No. 616,087

3 Claims. (Cl. 240-371) This invention relates to emergency lights and more particularly to an emergency lamp and circuit combined with an electric outlet and packaged as a unit which may be plugged into an ordinary wall outlet from which it receives power for feeding its outlet sockets and which upon interruption of such power will cause operation of the contained emergency circuit elements to light the emergency lamp.

Although emergency lighting systems have been used in theatres, trains, street cars and the like, these have generally required installation of special apparatus and wiring for automatically switching on the emergency circuits upon failure of normal power. Such installations are generally large, complex and usually specially designed and integrated with the power installation at the time the building or vehicle is originally equipped. Emergency lighting apparatus has not heretofore been made available which is suitable for use With existing wiring in a home, building, hospital room, apartment house hallway or the like, where emergency illumination would be extremely desirable but where the expense of rewiring or re-equipping would be prohibitive.

it is a primary purpose of this invention to fulfill the need for emergency lighting apparatus of such nature by provision of a portable emergency lighting unit capable of being plugged into existing Wall type power outlets and which will automatically energize an emergency lamp from a self-contained source of energy upon failure of the main power.

Another object of the invention lies in the provision of a plug-in unit which combines an emergency light and associated circuit elements together with auxiliary socket means for use as an electric outlet, so that additional lamps, fans, toasters or other devices may be plugged into the emergency light unit and be connected therethrough to the main power outlet.

Still another object of the invention lies in the provision of a combination emergency lighting unit and auxiilary electric outlet which may be readily and simply connected to a main source of power and which is additionally provided with a night light operating from the main power source.

A still further object of the invention lies in the provision of a plug in device which combines an auxiliary power circuit and an emergency lamp energized therefrom, a night lamp energized from the main power source to which the device is connected and key operated switches for controlling the operation of each of the lamps.

The novel features that are considered characteristic of the invention are set forth with particularity in the appended claims. The invention itself, however, both as to its organization and its method of operation, together with additional objects and advantages thereof, will best be understood from the following description of a specific embodiment when read in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein like reference characters indicate like parts through the several figures and in which:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view from the front of an emergency lighting unit constructed in accordance with the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of an electric wall outlet into which the device shown in Fig. 1 is adapted to be plugged;

Fig. 3 is a perspective view from the rear of the emergency lighting unit shown in Fig. 1, and

Fig. 4 is a diagrammatic sketch showing the circuit connections of the emergency light unit and wall outlet illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2.

The plug-in emergency lighting device according to the invention. in the form illustrated in the drawings, comprises a rectangular housing 1 approximating the size of the conventional Wall outlet casing 2. Two pairs of male connectors 3 protrude from the rear wall 4 of the housing 1. The male connectors 3 are adapted to be inserted into the female connectors 5 of the outlet 2. Ordinarily such insertion will serve to not only connect the emergency lighting unit electrically but also to hold the unit in place.

A more permanent securement may, however, be obtained by removing the cover plate, not shown, from outlet 2 and applying an elongated threaded bolt 6 into the threaded aperture 7 normally provided for retention of an outlet coverplate screw. Bolt 6 may pass completely through the emergency lighting unit from front to rear and through openings in the front and rear walls such as shown at 7. Preferably, the bolt 6 will comprise a quick release latch on its outer end so that the unit 1 may be readily removed from the bolt during power failure so that the unit can be transported and used as a flashlight, if desired.

A plurality of sets of female terminals 8 are provided in the front wall 25 of easing 1 and these are electrically connected to the sets of prongs 3 so that lamps, appliances and the like may be connected to the emergency lighting unit in the same manner as if connected to the outlet 2, the terminals 8 being identical to terminals 5 in physical and electrical characteristics.

Supported from the top wall of casing 1, in openings therein, are a high voltage night lamp 9 and a low voltage emergency lamp 10. The lamp 101s mounted at the focus of a reflector 11 which is preferably parabolic in shape. A lens 12 caps the lamp assembly and may be provided with prisms or other configurations to direct the light rays emitted from lamp 10 in any desired pattern.

Two switches 13 and 14'are mounted in a side wall 15 of casing 1. The switches 13 and 14 are preferably of the key operated type wherein a key of particular size and configuration may be inserted in a slot therein to turn the switch to on or o position. Switches 13 and 14 are respectively connected in series With emergency lamp 10 and night lamp 9 so that authorized persons provided with keys may control their operation and use.

Suitably disposed within casing 1 in any desired manner are a plurality of primary cells 16 and an alternating current relay 17, see Fig. 4. If desired, the batteries 16 may be flashlight cells and are connected in series through the relay armature 18 and contact 19, switch 13 to the emergency lamp 10. One side of the lamp 10, is grounded at 20 and one side of the batteries is grounded at 21 to complete the emergency lighting circuit.

Referring to Fig. 4, it will be seen that one set of connectors 5 in the conventional outlet 2 is illustrated as connected to a source of power by conductors 31 and 32. The second set of female connectors 5 are connected to the power source by conductors 33 and 34 connected in a parallel circuit across conductors 31 and 32. When the emergency lighting unit 1 is plugged into the outlet 2, the described parallel circuits are extended to the two sets of female connectors 8 by means of the conductors 35, 36, 37 and 38 which connect individual female connectors 8 with corresponding male connectors 3. The night lamp 9 in series with switch 14 is connected across the main circuit 35, 36 by conductors 39 and 40. The coil of relay 17 is connected across therparallel main circuit 37, 38 by conductors 41 and 42. The relay armature 18 is normally biased to make contact 19. When the relay is energized, the armature is attracted to the dead contact 22.

The described embodiment of the invention operates in the following manner. When the emergency lighting unit 1 is plugged into a conventional outlet 2, relay 17 will be energized, attracting the armature l8 and opening the auxiliary or emergency circuit to lamp lit. The night lamp 9 will be lighted so long as key switch 14 is turned to on. As long as the main power circuit functions properly, power may be fed to other devices, lamps or appliances by plugging such devices into the sets of corn necto'rs d. When the main power is shut off at conductors 31, 32 for any reason as by blowing of a fuse, the relay 1? Will be deenergized closing the low voltage auxiliary circuit previously described at contact- 19 to light the emergency lamp The emergency light may of course be turned on at will by means of key switch 13. Operation of the lamp to in the manner described will not only furnish illumination where it is essential or desirable, but will also serve to indicate failure of the main circuit with which it is associated. so that appropriate steps may be quickly taken to rectify the fault.

While the invention has been described and illustrated as applied to function with the ordinary 110 volt alternating current source of supply, it will be apparent that the device can be operated in substantially the same manner from a main source of direct current supply and the relay 17 used for controlling the emergency lamp circuit may be one which can be suitably operated by direct current as well as alternating current.

Although a certain specific embodiment of the invention has been shown and described, it is obvious that many modifications thereof are possible. The invention, therefore, is not to be restricted except insofar as is necessitated by the prior art and by the spirit of the appended claims.

That which is claimed is:

l. A portable auxiliary electrical outlet and combined 4 lighting unit, capable of being plugged into and supported by a conventional electrical outlet and adapted to supply night light while so supported and to supply emergency light upon failure of power in said conventional outlet or while disconnected from and being carried away from said outlet, comprising a small block shaped housing conforming in shape and size to a conventional electrical outlet receptacle, at least one light transparent window in said housing, male connectors extending from said housing and adapted to be plugged into a conventional power source outlet for energization and support of the unit, female connectors on said housing adapted to supply energy to electrical devices to which they may be connected, jumpers within said housing connecting said male and female connectors in substantial alignment, a lamp in said housing for night illumination connected across said jumpers for projecting light through said window, a second window in said casing, an emergency lamp in said housing to supply emergency illumination through said second window, and. an emergency lamp circuit including a battery power source within said housing, said circuit including means responsive to electrical energization of said male and female connectors by said conventional power source to automatically open said emergency lamp circuit.

2. A portable auxiliary electrical outlet and combined lighting unit as described in claim 1 wherein said emergency circuit includes a manually operated switch for shutting oil the emergency lamp.

3. A portable auxiliary electrical outlet and combined lighting unit as described in claim 1 wherein said means responsive to energization of said connectors to open the emergency lamp circuit comprises an electromagnetic de vice having a displaceable armature constituting part of said emergency lamp circuit.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,592,322 Adams July 13, 1926 2,213,584 Hulst Sept. 3, 1940 2,667,571 Versen Jan. 26, 1954 

